First EEE of season triggers alert

Four mosquitoes trapped in town have tested positive for Eastern equine encephalitis, a rare but potentially deadly illness spread by infected mosquitoes, Board of Health Agent Eric Badger said Friday.

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By Rebecca HymanGatehouse Media

Wicked Local

By Rebecca HymanGatehouse Media

Posted Jul. 19, 2014 at 6:00 AM
Updated Jul 21, 2014 at 11:17 AM

By Rebecca HymanGatehouse Media

Posted Jul. 19, 2014 at 6:00 AM
Updated Jul 21, 2014 at 11:17 AM

» Social News

BRIDGEWATER – Four mosquitoes trapped in town have tested positive for Eastern equine encephalitis, a rare but potentially deadly illness spread by infected mosquitoes, Board of Health Agent Eric Badger said Friday.

The Bridgewater mosquitoes, which were collected on July 15, are the first of the season statewide to test positive for EEE, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

“It used to be something that would occur every few years, but it seems like it’s something we can expect to see every summer now,” Badger said.

The four Bridgewater mosquitoes that tested positive were all mammal biters – as opposed to the less worrisome bird biters – and were all collected from the same pool near the West Bridgewater line, Badger said.

Badger said the DPH’s EEE alert level for Bridgewater was raised from “low” to “moderate” for the time being – but could be raised to “high” if more mosquitoes test positive.

The adjacent towns of West Bridgewater, Easton, Raynham and Middleboro were already on moderate alert based on last year’s EEE activity.

As a result of the “moderate” rating, Bridgewater has not imposed an early closing time on public parks and recreation areas, he said.

But Badger strongly urges residents to consider rescheduling outdoor evening activities and to “take extra precautions” – including using bug spray and wearing long sleeves, long pants and socks – if they must be outside at dusk.

Badger said the DPH will be conducting additional testing over the weekend in the vicinity of the pool where the EEE-positive mosquitoes were collected.

“They will be checking more in the same area to see if it’s an anomaly or more widespread,” Badger said.

The DPH has not yet announced when those results will be available, Badger said.

And Plymouth County Mosquito Control will begin ground spraying in Bridgewater on Monday, particularly in areas around ponds, lakes and other wetlands, Badger said.

The spraying will begin near the West Bridgewater line where the infected mosquitoes were trapped, he said.

“They will do some adulticiding to get the ones in flight and follow it up with larviciding,” Badger said.

There are currently no plans for aerial spraying, Badger said.

Badger said in the past couple years, infected mosquitoes were found in late June or early July.

“This is actually fairly late compared to prior years,” he said.

DPH State Public Health Veterinarian Catherine Brown said in a statement released Friday, “EEE is an annual occurrence in Massachusetts.”

“These were mammal-biting mosquitoes and the findings should remind residents of the area to cover up and apply insect repellent when outdoors,” Brown said.